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Outbreak of the crisis

Myanmar state media reports that 12 security officers have been killed by Rohingya insurgents. An Army crackdown in Rakhine state triggers an exodus of the stateless Muslim minority. Over the next four days, the number of refugees reaching Bangladesh on foot and by boat soars to several thousand.

August 29, 2017

UNHCR braces for new refugee arrivals

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, which has been working in Bangladesh for decades, pledges support and urges Dhaka to open borders as the numbers increase rapidly. UNHCR’s existing aid operation for tens of thousands of refugees in camps in Cox’s Bazar braces itself for a new massive influx.

Monsoonal rains spread disease and difficulty for new arrivals

more than 415,000 refugees have trekked to southern Bangladesh, many like mother-of-six Rabeya Khattm struggling with rains and flooding along the way. The same day, UNHCR declares Bangladesh a major emergency to scale up its response, deploy more staff and resources. Amid fears of disease outbreaks in the sprawling informal settlements, it steps up vaccine, clean water and sanitation drives.

10,000 Rohingya refugees cross into Bangladesh in just one day

As the outflow continues, UNHCR rushes relief supplies to the border areas amid reports on October 9 that an estimated 10,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh in just one day. Days later a “family count” gets underway in the informal settlements, to collect data on the size, particular needs and location of the newly arrived. It aims to help flag those with special protection needs, such as single mothers with small infants, people with disabilities, or lone children and elderly refugees.

October 11, 2017

Canada urged to provide more aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Jean-Nicolas Beuze, the UNHCR Representative in Canada, called on the government to increase its funding for the agency in Bangladesh. “We are definitely calling on Canada and other countries to continue paying attention to the situation and providing us and our partners with the necessary funding to be able to respond to the crisis.”

October 17, 2017

More refugees flee to Bangladesh as villages set on fire

Despite threats to leave or be killed, thousands of Rohingya opt to stay put in their homes in Rakhine state. But by mid-October, they flee when their villages are set on fire. Around 15,000 refugees near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, as they wait for permission to cross to safety.

October 18, 2017

Mental health of Rohingya refugees highlighted by the Canadian press

Refugees arriving in Bangladesh have experienced horrific violence and many are suffering from trauma severe stress. UNHCR is working to support men, women and children affectedd by such trauma, as covered in the National Observer.

Canadian organizations come to the aid of Rohingya refugees

Canadian organizations come together to support Rohingya refugees with donations. Unifor Social Justice Fund matches up to CA$50,000 worth of donations from the Canadian public. Mohamed Alsadi, director of Unifor Social Justice Fund, says “the forced migration that took place in (Myanmar) is absolutely difficult to look at, to standby and not to do anything.”

In early November Eaglecom Foundation announced a CA$25,000 gift match for Canadians donating to the Rohingya refugee crisis.

The Government of Canada launches the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund “in order to engage Canadians in responding to this humanitarian crisis and reinforce the response of Canadian civil society to address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations fleeing violence in Myanmar.” For every eligible dollar donated by individuals to registered Canadian charities Between August 25, 2017 and November 28, 2017, the Government of Canada sets aside one dollar per one dollar donated to the Myanmar Crisis Relief Fund. UNHCR Canada is part of this gift matching program.

Early November, 2017

Refugees stranded in Myanmar craft rafts to try to reach safety

Thousands of Rohingya are stranded in Myanmar waiting to cross the Naf River to Bangladesh. Unable to pay for the crossing, a flotilla of 30 improvised rafts – made from bamboo poles and jerry cans lashed together with rope – cross the river estuary to Bangladesh on November 17 as refugee numbers top 620,000.

Crisis continues: aid ongoing

In the 100 days to date, UNHCR has provided emergency aid including 93,000 tarpaulins for shelters, 178,000 blankets and 36,000 sets of kitchen utensils to refugees. It has provided access to water and latrines to over 100,000 people, and medical attention and counselling to nearly 60,000. Its family count has so far gathered data on 173,356 families, to better identify their vulnerabilities and meet their immediate needs going forward.

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